Harry Potter came out this weekend.
Now before you go get your wizard panties all in a wad, let me just say right now that I just don't get it.
I haven't read any of the [apparently magical] books, and I believe I've only seen a grand total of five minutes from one of the movies.
Before your throw your stones, let me explain.
I'm not against magic. Nor am I an anti-bandwagon kind of gal. I wear my UGG (ahem... fake) boots and Nike shorts with pride. Not to mention, I've trudged my way through the Twilight series and all of its angst.
I just can't get into fantasy.
Is that sad?
My imagination is about as vast as my big toe.
So while the movie theaters flooded with anxious teenagers dressed with pointy magic sticks and oval-rimmed glasses, Grahm and I walked into Rachel McAdam's latest film: Morning Glory. I think there were fifteen people in the theater, and that's being generous.
So, I guess I should [probably] try reading this series sometime. After all, I wouldn't mind living large like JK Rowling now is. But I think it might be difficult to read about flying brooms, magic spells, and talking creatures.
Do you like Harry Potter? Does it live up to all the hype?
I love it! And I'm not ashamed to admit, as a 27 year old engineer with a boyfriend, that tomorrow night (tight-@rse Tuesday), I am taking myself on a date to see this movie.
ReplyDeleteIt's pure escapism, but the books are well-written and the movies well-produced. What can I say, sometimes I need to escape from my life a little!
I think that you will agree that I can be considered a fairly down-to-earth person who shares many of your general tastes. That being said, I saw movie 6 last night. I didn't wear a costume, I didn't wave a wand. I did, however, read the first 150 pages of HP Book 1 immediately when I returned home, and have thus broken my 3+ month pleasure-reading hiatus because I was reminded of my love for this series and for the message that it communicates. I'm not trying to say that everyone will love them and think they are perfect, but I will say that they have moved me to read them over and over again and they have held my interest and attention over the last 12 years or so. That's no ordinary fad, if you ask me. I would recommend them to anyone who asked.
ReplyDeleteYou and I have very dissimilar taste in artistic forms. Having said that, I don't think that I can convince you to love Harry Potter for the reasons that I love the story. However, as a loving Harry Potter fan, if you know you don't like fantasy or haven't been able to watch 5 minutes of the films maybe you shouldn't read them? I don't think that people should make themselves love Harry Potter. I think that a love for the story comes from simply reading the story; not from trying to convince yourself to like it.
ReplyDeleteWow. First of all, I do not like fantasy. Lord of the rings, NO SIREE. Star Wars - blah. Star Trek - ew. But Harry Potter - wow. I am an avid reader, and I waited to read harry potter until three years ago after all the books were out. Now, the first 2-3 books aren't as good as the others. THey are slower and not as entertaining, but Harry Potter is so extraordinary. I mean you really have to read it. It fantastic. And I laughed out loud so many times. The first couple of movies aren't that great, as the budget wasn't as high yet.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm with you on not loving fantasy, but I LOVE Harry Potter. ANd, it reminds of CS Lewis stuff in that it is such a parallel in the battle of good/evil and the story of Jesus. Just look for it when you read it and you will see it.
Please give it a chance. Read them. At least the first 4. The fourth one is when they start getting really good, and really long.(-:
NOW GO READ THEM!
~Kathryn
I'm not a huge blog commenter, and I'm coming to this one nearly a month overdue...but I have feedback you have to offer, and if I speak up just once I don't have to feel like a cyberstalker for reading the rest. Right?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, story. My parents gave me the first three books in the Harry Potter series as a Christmas present one year (probably while you were in Junior High...) and I was deeply offended. I told Mom, "I don't read children's books."
She said, "They're fantasy! And they're good! You should love them."
I just rolled my eyes and reiterated, "Kids books!" But we were at my granddad's for the holiday and it was boring there, so I finally broke down and cracked the first book.
And I didn't put it down until I'd finished it. It's fantastic writing. The third book made me cry, and every one of them is packed with incredible adventure and the kind of characters (and inter-character dynamics) that every book in the history of time has striven to achieve.
It's good stuff. The only one I didn't love was the fifth book, and that's because she did what she was trying to do a little bit too well.
So yeah. Read 'em. You trusted me when it came to Lee Child, and that worked out all right!